Meet the County Armagh woman who takes marathon-running a giant stride further

Meet the County Armagh woman who takes marathon-running a giant stride further

BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

For most of us, the prospect of running a marathon is either a mere pipe-dream or, more likely, an idea that makes us want to throw up in our mouths. For one County Armagh woman though, the prospect wasn't nearly hardcore enough.

For most of us, the prospect of running a marathon is either a mere pipe-dream or, more likely, an idea that makes us want to throw up in our mouths. For one County Armagh woman though, the prospect wasn't nearly hardcore enough.

And that's why Lynsay Adair has taken the whole fitness thing a giant leap further by completing the GB Ultra 200.

What's that? I hear you ask. Well its every bit as extreme as it sounds. It's a unique 200 mile Ultra-Marathon, following the Trans-Pennine Trail from Southport to Hornsea in England over a five day period. That's an eye-watering 40 miles per day.

The 35-year-old woman, a member of Widnes Wasps Running Club, Liverpool since April 2015 where she currently resides was inspired to challenge her ability to its upper limits and enter the 200 mile Ultra Marathon after volunteering as a marshal at the GB Ultra 200 event in 2016 where her desire to one day become a competitor ignited.

The intense Ultra-Marathon involved competitors running throughout the day and well into the night, at times with limited rest over challenging terrain with inherent risks of changing weather conditions. A number of Village Halls were located on route which acted as rest stops to help support each ultra-runner in their race journey across the country.

Lynsay (right) all smiles as she runs the GB Ultra 200.

The passionate Tandragee runner who completed the 200 mile endurance race in just over 90 hours said; "GB Ultra 200 was one of the best but also most challenging experiences I have ever participated in. I ran the race alongside my training partner Scott who was a great encouragement throughout. Unfortunately we both picked up injuries early on which made our race journey more challenging. I also found it very difficult to sleep in the Village Hall facilities at night and only got a total of about five hours sleep over the duration of the race.

"The worst night of my race journey was around the 160 mile point. It was dark, it was raining, I was tired and in pain. I thought I couldn't go on but I somehow managed to find the motivation and determination to push through to the end.

"Everyone I met acted as a core source of support throughout and everyone worked to encourage other competitors to see the race through to the end. I met so many inspirational individuals from other competitors to marshals during my GB Ultra 200 experience. Members of my local running club Widnes Wasps also came to support me along the route too.”

In preparation for the GB Ultra 200 race Lynsay trained with members of her local running club in Liverpool, Widnes Wasps on a weekly basis, went mountain walking and signed up to numerous Marathons and Ultras, one of which involved a stunning 69 mile race through the historic Hadrian’s Wall country, which is renowned for being one of the UK’s most iconic Ultras.

Lynsay Adair and training partner Scott celebrate at the finish-line.

The sportswoman also completed two back-to-back trail marathons on consecutive days in the West Pennine Moors Double Marathon challenge in March, where she was the first woman home on both days.

“I have already booked upcoming Marathons and Ultra races to compete in however they are not quite as long distance as the GB Ultra 200," she said.

"I am going to take the next few weeks to let my body recover from the high intensity GB Ultra 200 endurance race in preparation for my upcoming endeavours.

"I wouldn’t rule out competing in the GB Ultra 200 again in the future. I am just going to take each race challenge as it comes. These races will act as key building blocks in preparing me for any bigger competitive challenges that might lie ahead in the future."